Constellation Cassiopeia (Cas)

Prepared by: website
10-10-2013

Perhaps the circumpolar constellation second in its recognition after the “bucket” of Ursa Major is Cassiopeia, the stars of which form a figure similar to the Latin letter "W". But if we take into account the fourth magnitude star κ Cassiopeia, the figure of the constellation also becomes like... a small ladle!

The constellation is named after Cassiopeia - in Greek mythology, the wife of the Ethiopian king Kepheus (Cepheus) and the mother of Andromeda. According to one version of the myth, Cassiopeia, for her boasting, was tied to a chair, sitting on which she was doomed to circle around the North Pole of the celestial sphere, turning upside down.

The constellation Cassiopeia is one of the 48 constellations mentioned by Ptolemy in his catalog of the starry sky, and is therefore one of the oldest constellations in the starry sky. The main asterism of Cassiopeia is formed by 5 stars of the 2nd and 3rd magnitude, forming a “W”-shaped figure of the constellation. Due to their brightness, they are clearly visible in the sky even in urban light conditions.

In the sky, the constellation Cassiopeia borders on constellations such as Cepheus, Giraffe, Lizard, Andromeda, Perseus and is accessible for observation in the latitude range from +90° N. to -20° S On the territory of Russia there is non-setting constellation.

A simple way to find Cassiopeia in the sky

Before we move on to describing the attractions of this constellation, we will help novice astronomy lovers find it in the sky. To do this, we will first find the “bucket” of the Big Dipper, then the North Star. Now let’s draw a mental straight line from the star Alioth (ε Ursa Major) through the Polar Star further to the same angular segment (see figure above). Here we can easily find the characteristic “W”-shaped figure of the constellation Cassiopeia.

Cassiopeia on a modern star map

Let's get to know the main stars of this constellation. Let's start with the star β Cassiopeia, which is called Kaph. The name of the star, apparently, comes from the letter of the Arabic alphabet “Kaf”, since its outline is very similar to the figure of this constellation. Kaf is a yellow giant of spectral class F. The star's magnitude is +2.28 stars. led However, it is not constant and varies from +2.25 to +2.31 stars. led with a period of 2.5 hours. Before us is a variable star of the δ Scuti type.

Now let's move on to the star α Cassiopeia, called Shedar. Being 230 light years away from Earth, this star, an orange giant, is visible as a star of +2.23 stars. Vel., while the luminosity of Shedar is 500 times greater than the luminosity of our Sun!

At one time, the star Shedar was also considered variable, but since the 19th century there have been no signs of its variability.

Those with small telescopes will be interested in looking at the star η Cassiopeiae, a beautiful double star located 19.4 light-years away. Primary yellow star +3.34 mag. led almost the same spectral class as our Sun, so observing it even with the naked eye, you can imagine what our Sun looks like from a distance of 19 light years. Next to the main yellow star at an angular distance of 13" the second component of this binary system is noticeable - a cooler orange star +7.51 mag.

Next, we will get acquainted with the star γ Cassiopeia, which is called Navi (Navi, from English navigation - navigation). This name was given to the star by American astronaut Gus Grissom, because γ Cassiopeiae has been a navigation star in a number of space missions. And, thanks to its physical characteristics, this star is of undoubted interest. So, in 1937 its brightness was equal to +2.2 mag. However, by 1940 it had weakened to +3.4 magnitude. led In 1949, γ Cassiopeia increased in brightness to +2.9 stars. vel., and by 1965 it became even brighter (+2.7 mag. mag.). Today the brightness of this star is +2.15 stars. led and it is the brightest star in the constellation. The reason for the instability of the brightness is the very rapid rotation of this star around its axis, as a result of which it is strongly flattened at the poles. Given the high luminosity of the star, γ Cassiopeiae loses the stellar matter accumulating in its equatorial zone, which forms a disk around it, which, apparently, affects changes in the apparent brightness of the star.

Let us also add that γ Cassiopeia is a spectral double star with a period of rotation of the components around the common center of gravity equal to 204 days. The estimated mass of the satellite roughly corresponds to our Sun.

Now let's turn our attention to the next star of the "zigzag" of Cassiopeia - Rukba (δ Cassiopeia), which in Arabic means "knee". Rukba is an eclipsing variable star with a period of 759 days. The visible brightness of the star varies within insignificant and imperceptible limits for the human eye - from +2.68 to +2.74 stars. led Rukba is 99 light years away from Earth.

The last star of the "W"-shaped constellation is the star ε. It also has a name - Seguin. The star Seguin is 441 light years away from us and in our sky its brightness is +3.38 stars. led Before us is a blue-white giant with a luminosity that is 720 times greater than the luminosity of the Sun!

Now that we have become acquainted with the main stars of the constellation, let's move on to other objects that attract the attention of astronomy lovers. First of all, I would like to draw attention to another variable star in this constellation, designated by the Greek letter ρ. On dark nights, it can easily be found with the naked eye south of the star Kaf (β Cassiopeia) as a star of approximately +4.5 stars. led What is interesting about this star? Despite its ordinary brilliance in the earth's sky, in front of us is a real yellow hypergiant, it is distant from us at a distance estimated at 11,700 - 15,300 light years. ρ Cassiopeia exceeds the Sun in radius by 400 - 500 times, and in luminosity by about 500,000 times!

Animation of the processes occurring with ρ Cassiopeia

P Cassiopeia belongs to the so-called semi-regular variable stars and its brightness varies between +4.4 and +5.1 stars. Vel., but in 1946 it weakened to +6 stars Vel. The interval between individual brightness maxima is about 100 days, but no clear periodicity of fluctuations in the star’s brightness has been recorded. Near the maximum, Cassiopeia's ρ spectrum corresponds to class F8, while it appears to be a reddish star, which is not typical for this spectral class. Sometimes (during brightness fluctuations) the spectral class of a star changes from F8 to K5, and in the mentioned 1946 it even became M5, which corresponds to red stars (by the way, ρ Cassiopeia seems to many observers to be a red star). In any case, this star should be taken under observation and its brightness determined from night to night, since unexpected changes are always possible, including a weakening to 6 stars. led And such observations, undoubtedly, can also have scientific value.

Search map of ρ Cassiopeia and comparison stars

Now information for those who are armed with binoculars or a telescope and are ready to take a walk through the brightest star clusters of the constellation. Let's start with the open star cluster M52 (NGC 7654), located west of the star β Cassiopeia. To search for this object, let’s arm ourselves with binoculars and draw a mental straight line from the star α Cassiopeia through the star β Cassiopeia further to approximately the same angular distance. Here, against the backdrop of scattered stars of the Milky Way, this small open star cluster is located, consisting of two yellowish stars +7.77 and +8.22 stars. Vel., as well as stars of the 11th magnitude. In binoculars, M52 will appear more like a small, hazy speck, but with telescopes with an objective lens of at least 100mm in diameter, individual faint stars in this open star cluster can be seen in a "V" shape.

Another open star cluster in the constellation Cassiopeia visible through binoculars is M103, located near the star δ Cassiopeia. M103 is easy to find with binoculars and is visible as a compact, glowing, hazy speck. It is worth noting that it is better to get acquainted with M103 using binoculars, since due to the small number of stars included in the cluster, when observed through a telescope, it “dissolves” against the background of the surrounding stellar scatterings. But the telescope will help you see the faint stars of this cluster, which is 8,000 light years away from us.

There are other open star clusters in the constellation Cassiopeia, such as NGC 659, NGC 663, NGC 654, as well as NGC 457, which is more than 9,000 light years away and includes about a hundred stars. The star φ Cassiopeiae is visible against the background of this cluster, but it has nothing to do with NGC 457.

In urban light conditions, in which observing deep space objects becomes difficult, we can recommend observing the Queen’s Kite asterism, which is clearly visible through binoculars. The asterism is located slightly east of the star δ Cassiopeia, and the brightest star of this asterism is the star χ Cassiopeia (magnitude +4.7 mag.). The brilliance of the remaining stars included in the asterism is 6–7 stars. size. And in its shape, the asterism is similar to a paper kite. And the larger the diameter of the lens of your optical instrument and the darker the sky, the more scatterings of stars you can see in this corner of the starry sky.

Search map of the Queen’s Kite asterism

Of course, the story about Cassiopeia cannot be completed without mentioning the supernova, which was observed by the famous astronomer Tycho Brahe in 1572. This supernova is one of 8 supernovae for which historical information has been preserved. So, it was November 1572... “One evening,” writes Tycho Brahe, “when I, as usual, was examining the sky, the appearance of which was well known to me, I, to my indescribable surprise, saw near the zenith in Cassiopeia an extraordinary bright star magnitude. Amazed by the discovery, I did not know whether to believe my own eyes.

The new star did not have a tail, it was not surrounded by any nebula, it was in all respects similar to other stars of the first magnitude... In terms of its brilliance, it could only be compared with Venus, when the latter is at its closest distance from the Earth. People gifted with good eyesight could discern this star in a clear sky during the day, even at noon. At night, with a cloudy sky, when other stars were hidden, the new star remained visible through fairly thick clouds.

Starting from December 1572, its shine began to decrease... Transition from 5 stars. led to 6m star led occurred between December 1573 and February 1574. The following month the new star disappeared, having shone for seventeen months and leaving no trace visible to the naked eye."

In 1952, at the site of the explosion of this supernova, astronomers found a source of radio emission, and 8 years later its remnant was found in the optical range.

Cassiopeia in the northeastern sky at midnight on July 10, 2005.

When preparing the material, the following sources were used: wikipedia website, book by F.Yu. Siegel "Treasures of the Starry Sky".

Countless stars sparkle in the night sky. They are collected in various constellations. Many of them cannot be seen in the sky with the naked eye, but they are known to us thanks to astrology. Others can be seen in various places on the planet. Thus, the constellation Orion shines brightly at night over the European part of the Eurasian continent.

Myths and legends

Orion is a constellation with which many stories, myths and legends are associated. Each nation interpreted the appearance of this constellation in the sky in its own way, therefore the names in all parts of the world where it could be seen were different. The Greeks associated it with the gods, in Egypt this constellation was called the King of the Stars, in Armenia it is named after the great man - the patriarch-ancestor of the Armenians Hayk. Many peoples did not connect all the stars of Orion into one scheme, but named only his belt as Three Sisters, Three Women, Three Men, Three Plows and so on.

But not only in ancient times, different stories were associated with this constellation. Many modern people expect the arrival of extraterrestrial civilizations precisely from Orion’s belt. This is due, in particular, to the fact that some of its stars surpass the Sun itself in size and luminosity. Look at the constellation Orion. Photos from different angles can be seen in this article. Perhaps you too will get the impression that there are other civilizations out there somewhere.

Ancient Greek myth

According to the myths and legends of Ancient Greece, Orion was the son of the god of the seas and oceans Poseidon and one of the Gorgon sisters, whose name was Euryale. When he grew up, he went to travel and in one of the cities he saw and fell in love with the beautiful princess Merope, the daughter of King Oinopion. Orion went to the king and began to ask for the hand of his beautiful daughter. But, despite the external beauty and glory of the great hunter, he was refused. The king did not want to part with his beloved daughter. Orion decided to take the princess by force, but, having learned about this, Oinopion grabbed and blinded the beautiful young man, after which he threw him onto the seashore.

With the help of an oracle, which told Orion how to become healthy again, the young man regained his sight. He wanted to take revenge on the king for what he had done and went in search of him. But during his travels he met the beautiful Artemis and fell in love with her. The goddess of the hunt reciprocated his feelings. And everything would be fine, only Orion loved to boast that he was the best hunter and could not find such a master in this matter anywhere.

The goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus, disliked the beautiful young man and sent a scorpion to kill Orion with its poisonous bite. Artemis grieved for a long time, and then sent her lover to heaven. Since then, Orion has been a constellation that pleased the goddess with its beauty every night. In response, Hera placed the constellation Scorpio on the opposite side of the sky. And these two constellations never rise at the same time.

Legend of the Pleiades

Once upon a time, there lived in heaven seven sisters who loved to play and have fun. One day, carried away by one of their pastimes, they sank too close to the ground and were unable to return home. The sisters became sad, they missed the heavenly heights. And they began to figure out how to return. We approached the tree and asked for help. They told how they longed for their home, how happy and shining they were there. The tree took pity and began to grow until the top touched the sky.

There were seven young men left on earth who passionately fell in love with the heavenly girls. They yearned for their loved ones and constantly looked at the heavens. The tree took pity on them and lifted the young men to heaven, where they turned into the constellation Orion. Since then, seven beautiful girls and their boys have been inseparable. And every clear night, looking up at the starry sky, you can see the constellation Orion near the Pleiades.

Egyptian pyramids

Orion is a constellation that is considered a reference point for the construction of the Egyptian pyramids of Giza. It's hard not to find similarities between these three largest architectural structures in Egypt and the stars in Orion's belt. Continuing to examine the celestial bodies that are part of this constellation, one can find other similarities with the famous Egyptian architectural complex. Temples, small pyramids and other significant buildings are located at the same distance from the pyramids as the rest of the stars of Orion from the belt.

A large number of coincidences makes it clear that the skill of the civilization that created such buildings was in many ways superior to modern technology. Focusing on the constellation Orion, the diagram of which was created by astronomers already at that time, the ancient Egyptians erected structures exactly according to the location of celestial bodies, as if projecting them onto the earth.

Orion Stars

The bright multi-colored stars of the Orion constellation create a beautiful pattern in the sky. Each of them has its own name, size and meaning.

The alpha of this constellation is Betelgeuse, which glows orange-red. Her name means "shoulder (arm) of a giant." This star is considered irregular, since it shines variablely and periodically pulsates. Betelgeuse's mass is 15 times the mass of the Sun, and its diameter is approximately 700 times greater than the Sun's.

The beta of this constellation is Rigel, which in Arabic means "giant's foot." The brightest and largest star, its luminosity is 130,000 times greater than the Sun. It has a soft blue color and is also variable. The ancient Egyptians considered this star to be the god Osiris.

The star Belatrix has a diameter 3 times greater than the Sun. It is blue in color and ranks 27th in brightness.

And the last of the brightest stars is named Saif.

Orion's Belt

Three stars form Orion's belt. They are called Alnitak, Alnilam and Mintaka. Many peoples considered these three stars to be the main ones and assigned them various legends and names.

Mintaka are four luminous objects located in space in such a way that from Earth they appear to be a single whole.

The next star in the belt is Alnilam. From Arabic this name translates as “string of pearls.” Being a supergiant and being 2 times farther from the Sun than other stars, it shines as brightly as the rest of the celestial bodies in the galaxy.

Alnitak also consists of several luminous celestial bodies, which from Earth look like one.

Orion Nebula

The nebula can be observed where the stars of the constellation Orion form the “sword” of a warrior or hunter. Because ionized plasma emits light and forms a cloud, it is visible very brightly from Earth. Its size is approximately 33 light years. The shape of the nebula is arcuate, and the center, due to the characteristic arrangement of stars, is called Trapezium.

This unique spectacle can be observed in winter, since finding the constellation Orion at this time is not difficult. The nebula can be seen with the naked eye. But if you have a telescope at hand, then there will be much more impressions and pleasant emotions.

Constellation location

The constellation Orion is located on the celestial sphere in the northern hemisphere. In its brightness and beauty it is second only to the Big Dipper. To easily determine where the constellation Orion is located, you need to look at the sky in the autumn or winter months. It is during this period that it can be clearly seen on the southern side of the sky.

You can easily find many astrological signs by looking at the starry sky. The constellation Orion is often used as a reference point when searching for the constellations Gemini and Taurus. But that's not all. In the constellation itself, on a clear night you can easily see up to 100 stars.

Neighboring constellations

Having determined where the constellation Orion is located, at its extreme points you can find Canis Major and Canis Minor, Unicorn, Hare, Leo, as well as such zodiac signs as Gemini and Taurus.

The constellation Gemini is located north of Orion and is located between the stars Leo and Taurus. The Greater and Lesser Dogs are, as it were, behind the hunter’s back. If you draw an image of a person using the outline created by the stars, then the hare is at the feet. Since it is very easy to find the constellation Orion in a clear sky, by looking closely and using it as a guide, you can easily find other clusters of celestial bodies.

The constellation Orion in the modern world

The constellation Orion, a photo of which can be seen in the planetarium, various books and textbooks, is often depicted in paintings and frescoes. Many creative people, fascinated by its secrets and legends, are inspired to create some masterpiece. Artists Don Peterson, Jeremy Bergland, Chad Ingle and Erich Remash were no exception. They created an installation called Starlight. It consists of the seven main stars of Orion and is located in such a way that when looking at it from a bird's eye view, you get the impression that you are looking at the sky.

This piece of art was presented at the annual art exhibition called Burning Man. It is located in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada.

Orion is a mysterious constellation and all the more attractive because it can always be found in the sky. For novice astronomers, there is no better reference point than this cluster of celestial bodies. But before moving on to other objects, it is worth carefully studying this constellation and the stories and legends associated with it, plunging into the world of mysteries and discovering the endless flow of information associated with the ancient hunter.

Cassiopeia is an interesting constellation of northern latitudes. This modest, at first glance, combination of stars consists of 90 celestial bodies. They can be seen simply by looking at the sky, of course, if you have good vision and the absence of city light.

The Legend of Cassiopeia

The most common version of the legend is that an Ethiopian queen named Cassiopeia was extremely proud of her beauty. She was so arrogant that she began to compare herself with the younger goddesses, the daughters of Poseidon, and mock them. The sea god heard the impudent speeches and became angry. The whole country became a victim of anger, as the sea around the coast was engulfed by storms, a flood hit the fields, and the ships began to be devoured by a huge Whale.

To save his people, the ruler of the country, Kepheus, had to sacrifice his own daughter Andromeda, although she was later saved by Perseus. And the lord of the sea sent Cassiopeia herself to heaven as punishment. Every year the throne with the guilty queen turns over, causing her to experience terrible torment.

Later, the legend softened, and today the constellation Cassiopeia wanders in the sky to remind people of the beauty of the ancient queen.

What does the constellation Cassiopeia look like?

Inexperienced astronomers usually know for sure only 5, which form a characteristic figure similar to the Latin letter “W”. Thus, the constellation Cassiopeia, the diagram of which has a simple, laconic form, is quickly remembered by observers. These five stars are used in navigation and orientation; their names are of Arabic origin.

• The orange giant star Shedar - Alpha Cassiopeia - has a brightness level of 2.2m.
• Kaph, a beta constellation, has a brightness of approx. 2.3m.
• Navi - Gamma Cassiopeia, a star of variable brightness from 1m to 3m. This star has an interesting feature: its half-joking name was given in honor of NASA astronaut Virgil Ivan Grissom, i.e. his middle name is read upside down. The older and more traditional name for the star is Tsich.
• Rukba - constellation delta, 2.7m.
• Seguin (2.2m), epsilon Cassiopeia, blue-white giant.

The combination of these celestial bodies in the shape of the letter “M” is what the constellation Cassiopeia looks like in the usual sense.

How to find a constellation?

This constellation can be seen all year round over the Northern Hemisphere. To observe the sky, you need to choose a cloudless night; you may have to leave the city, since illumination from buildings dims the shine of even the brightest stars. You can also use binoculars.

What should you pay attention to to find the constellation Cassiopeia? The search scheme has been developed a long time ago, using it as a guide, it is quite easy to find Cassiopeia. By using the diagram several times, you can easily find as many as three northern constellations with your gaze.

First we find the Big Dipper, or “big dipper.” It would probably be difficult to find a person who could not identify this star cluster. In summer, Ursa Major moves to the northwest, in autumn - to the north, in winter - to the northeastern part of the sky, in spring - it is at the zenith. Through the outer edge of the “bucket”, consisting of two stars, you need to lay a line to the first bright point - this is the North Star, the very tip of the handle of the “small bucket”, or Ursa Minor.

Now from the penultimate luminary on the handle of the “big bucket” a straight line is drawn to the North Star. The line is drawn at such a distance until the gaze rests on Cassiopeia. With enough attention this will be quite easy to do.

Constellation Cassiopeia. Drawing by dots as an exercise for children

Drawing with dots is a useful exercise that develops artistic talent in children. Drawing constellations by dots also broadens the child’s horizons and fuels his interest in the mysteries and beauty of the Universe. The starry sky above enchants and provides rich food for the imagination of both children and adults.

By connecting the stars, you can see how a complete image turns out, compare yourself with ancient people, and understand how their interpretation differs from the modern one. Each constellation is accompanied by a legend that is pleasant to listen to, like a fairy tale. This is how the stars become closer and dearer. By drawing constellations and learning their names during the day, the child remembers them better when he looks at them live at night. This gives impetus to systems thinking and artistic flair. By comparing what the constellation Cassiopeia looks like in the picture and in the sky, the child understands more deeply the difference between the abstract and the living.

The constellation Cassiopeia, the diagram of which was learned in childhood, will be remembered for a lifetime.

Adult beginners in astronomy should not neglect this exercise either. For example, a dotted drawing will help you study the constellation Cassiopeia quickly and easily; a trained eye will instantly find familiar outlines.

Notable objects

In 1752, the famous scientist Tycho Brahe noticed a brightly flaring star. However, after 16 months it went out. Perhaps the scientist observed a supernova explosion.

The most famous star cluster is playfully named Salt-and-Pepper. It can be seen with binoculars between the stars Shedar and Kaf. There are two galaxies in the constellation of the ancient queen, but, unfortunately, they are only accessible to telescopes. Cassiopeia lies in the thickness and is therefore rich in interesting objects for study, there are quasars, galaxies, dark, diffuse and For the keen astronomer, Cassiopeia will reveal all its shining treasures.

Very close to Cassiopeia is the constellation of her husband and co-ruler Kepheus; this combination of luminaries can be observed over the entire Northern Hemisphere. The rest of the legend's participants are nearby: Keith, Andromeda, Perseus. What does the constellation Cassiopeia look like surrounded by family and old enemies? It must be regal and dignified.

The Legend of Cassiopeia in Art

All the ancient legends that have reached us are reflected in books, paintings and films. The legend about the arrogant queen was no exception. Over the years, her image changed from a punished criminal to a proud beauty flying across the sky. Nowadays, the queen has become a symbol of a brave and regal woman. An artistic look at what the constellation Cassiopeia looks like, the pictures are shown in a variety of variations.

The combination of the magic of the stars and human drama has always inspired talented creators. The constellation Cassiopeia and the legend about it were mentioned in the films “The Green Mile”, “Youths in the Universe” and “The Langoliers”. Musical groups were named after her, paintings were painted in her honor.

The entire sky is shrouded in legends, which makes the stars closer and dearer to humanity.

Photographing constellations

With the advent of photographic equipment, the desire to capture pictures of the starry sky only grows stronger. have a mesmerizing effect. Many ordinary amateurs are sure that such beauty can only be created using such heavy-duty equipment, but in fact, almost every astronomer can take beautiful photographs.

Of course, what the constellation Cassiopeia looks like (a photo taken with specialized equipment) cannot be compared with household cameras, but by experimenting with shutter speed and other shooting parameters, you can achieve good results. For long exposures, a special tripod is required to compensate for the movement of the planet relative to the sky.

Cassiopeia (lat. Cassiopeia) is a constellation in the Northern Hemisphere of the sky.

• The brightest stars of Cassiopeia (from 2.2 to 3.4 magnitudes) form a figure similar to the letters “M” or “W”.
• The constellation covers an area of ​​598.4 square degrees in the sky and contains about 150 stars visible to the naked eye; of which 90 stars are brighter than 6 m.
• Most of the constellation lies in the Milky Way band and contains many open star clusters.

The constellation Cassiopeia is almost entirely immersed in the so-called summer Milky Way, which already suggests that this constellation can be very rich in deep space objects.

That’s right, there are more than two dozen remarkable open star clusters in Cassiopeia, so the main tool for us today will be powerful astronomical binoculars, or a high-aperture refractor with an aperture of at least 100 mm and a wide field of view. The constellation Cassiopeia is non-setting throughout almost the entire territory of Russia. Only in the very south of the country does a small part of it briefly disappear behind the horizon.

The myth of the constellation Cassiopeia

Cassiopeia was the wife of King Cepheus of Ethiopia (located next to her in the form of a constellation). She once boasted that she was superior in beauty to the Nerids (50 sea nymphs created by the titan Nereus). They got angry and asked Poseidon to punish her. He could not refuse, since he was married to one of them (Amphitrite). He sent Cetus, a sea monster depicted in the constellation Cetus, who was supposed to destroy the kingdom. The king asked the oracle for help and he advised him to give Poseidon his daughter Andromeda. With great difficulty they agreed and chained her to a rock. But at the last moment she was saved by Perseus, whom she later married. However, this is not the end. One of her admirers, Phineus, showed up at the wedding and accused her of treason, since only he had the right to marry her. A battle took place in which Perseus used the head of Medusa the Gorgon. But, since many people looked at her, the king and queen also turned to stone. Poseidon sent Cassiopeia and Cepheus to heaven. But he still punished her, since for half a year the constellation remains turned upside down. Most often she is depicted sitting on a throne and combing her hair.

How to find the constellation Cassiopeia?

The constellation Cassiopeia is usually found by the asterism Tron. It is best for someone to show this Throne - it is enough to see this configuration of stars in the sky once, and it will become recognizable forever!

The constellation Cassiopeia can be found independently as follows:

1. If you live approximately at the latitude of Moscow, then literally from the very beginning of autumn, when you go outside at about midnight local time, you will find the Tron asterism right above your head, at the zenith. All you have to do is correctly determine the angular dimensions of the throne and mentally build its pattern according to the stars.

The largest angular distance in the Tron asterism, between Seguin and Kaf, is about 13°. The angular distance between the thumb and index finger of an adult’s outstretched hand is 16-18°, so the Throne against the background of an outstretched hand will look approximately as shown in Fig. 5.

Estimation of the angular size of the Throne asterism in the constellation Cassiopeia using an outstretched arm. This image seems to emphasize the compact arrangement of the bright stars of Cassiopeia

1. An all-season way to determine the location of Cassiopeia is to “target” the beam through already known stars. The best “shot” will be obtained if you continue the line from Aliot (ε UMa) beyond the North Star (α UMa) and you will get an exact hit in Gamma Cassiopeia Navi, and if you look closely you will find that the Big Dipper and the Throne of Cassiopeia asterism are located centrally symmetrically relative to the North Star.

You need to mentally draw a line through Alioth Ursa Major and the North Star - it will lead to the brightest star Cassiopeia Navi. There are other options: from any of the stars of the handle of the Big Dipper, also draw lines to Polaris, all of them will lead to Cassiopeia. In such a position as in Figure 7, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, Cassiopeia and the Throne can be seen on a late spring evening.

• If you look at the Sun from Alpha Centauri, one of the stars closest to us, it will appear in Cassiopeia and will be visible as a 0.5 magnitude star.
• Stephen King's novel The Green Mile makes reference to the constellation Cassiopeia: the novel's hero, John Coffey, calls the constellation "Cassie the Lady in the Rocking Chair", which reflects an American folklore reflection of the ancient myth. The constellation Cassiopeia is also mentioned in the novel “The Langoliers”.
• The constellation Cassiopeia is also mentioned in the film “Intuition” (2001), where the main character Jonathan (John Cusack) tells the myth about the constellation to a girl named Sarah (Kate Beckinsale).
• The star Alpha Cassiopeia is the goal of the expedition in the Soviet science fiction film-duology “Moscow - Cassiopeia / Youths in the Universe”, released by the film studio. Gorky in 1973–1974.
• Cassiopeia is the name of the official fan club of the DBSK group
• Cassiopeia, in the world of Middle-earth created by the writer J. R. R. Tolkien, corresponds to the constellation Wilvarin (Butterfly).
• Flammarion in his book “The Starry Sky and Its Wonders” talks about the work of a certain English writer “The Star ψ Cassiopeia, an amazing history of one of the worlds in space, a description of the peculiar nature, habits, travels and literary works of the local inhabitants.” According to the author, the manuscript of the book was discovered in an empty fireball found in the Himalayas.

W-asterism

Cassiopeia includes an asterism that forms a memorable image of the constellation - W-asterism. It consists of the brightest stars of the constellation, ε (Segin), δ (Rukbah), γ (Navi), α (Shedar) and β (Kaf), forming a figure reminiscent of the Latin letter “W”.

Shedar(Alpha Cassiopeiae) is an orange giant of spectral type K0IIIa at 228 light years. This is a suspicious variable star. The apparent value may vary depending on which photometric system is used. The range contains from 2.20 to 2.23 magnitudes. Located in the lower right corner of the W-asterism. The name Shedar is taken from the Arabic “şadr” - “chest”. It marks the star position - in the heart of Cassiopeia.

Kaf(Beta Cassiopeia) is a subgiant or giant of spectral type F2 III-IV. It is 54.5 light years away from us. This is a Delta Scuti type variable star. Only brighter in this class Altair(star in constellation Aquila and 12th in the sky). This yellow-white star is 28 times brighter than the Sun and 4 times larger. It is currently in the process of cooling and will one day become a red giant.

Delta Scuti variables exhibit brightness variations due to radial and non-radial pulsations at the surface. These are usually giants or main sequence stars of spectral types ranging from A0 to F5.

The average apparent magnitude is 2.27. From the Arabic kaf translates as “palm” (that is, the palm of the Pleiades - a famous cluster in the constellation Taurus). Other traditional names are al-Sanam al-Naqa and al-Qaff al-Khadib.

Together with the stars Alpheraz (Andromeda) and Algenib (Pegasus), Kaf was perceived as one of the Three Guides - three bright stars creating an imaginary line from Kaf to Alferaz to the celestial equator (the point where the Sun passes at the spring and autumn equinoxes).

Navi(Gamma Cassiopeia) is an eruptive variable star that serves as the prototype of the variable stars Gamma Cassiopeia. Exhibits irregular changes in brightness from magnitude 2.20 to magnitude 3.40. It is the central W-shaped star and the brightest in the constellation (now). It is a blue star (spectral type B0.5 IVe), located 610 light years away with 40,000 times the Sun's brightness and about 15 solar masses. Due to rapid rotation, it expands at the equator and creates a “maternity” disk of lost mass and material. The Chinese call it Qih - “whip”. She also has the nickname "Navi", which comes from astronaut Virgil Grissom. Navi is Ivan (in English Ivan is the middle name of an astronaut), written in reverse order. The astronauts used the star as a guide.

Ruckbach(Delta Cassiopeia) is a double star with a period of 460 days. Belongs to spectral class A5. It is 99 light years distant and has an apparent magnitude between 2.68 and 2.74. It ranks fourth in brightness in the cluster. The name comes from the Arabic word for “knee”. Sometimes she is called Xora.

Seguin(Epsilon Cassiopeiae) is a bright blue-white B-class giant 440 light years away. 2500 times brighter than the Sun with an apparent magnitude of 3.34. Age – 65 million years. The star is at the end of a hydrogen fusion cycle. It is distinguished by very weak spectral absorption of helium.

Akhird(Eta Cassiopeiae) is a yellow-white G-type hydrogen dwarf star, slightly cooler than the Sun. The surface temperature is 5730 Kelvin, and the apparent magnitude is 3.45. It is the closest star in Cassiopeia to our system (only 19.4 light years away).

Akhird has a companion, an orange K-class dwarf with an apparent magnitude of 7.51, 11 arcseconds distant. Both are classified as the variable star RS Canes Venatici. They form a close double star and have active chromospheres that create large starspots. This results in changes in luminosity - the brightness fluctuates by 0.05 magnitude.

Zeta Cassiopeia– blue-white subgiant (B2IV) 600 light years away. Apparent visual magnitude – 3.67. It is an SPB (slow pulsating B) variable star with a magnetic field. The rotation speed is 56 km/s, and the period is 5.37 days.

Rho Cassiopeia– yellow hypergiant (a rare type, since there are only 7 of them in the Milky Way). It belongs to the spectral class G2Ia0e and is located 11,650 light years away. One of the brightest stars. Despite the distance, it can be viewed without technical equipment. 550,000 times brighter than the Sun with an absolute magnitude of 7.5. The apparent visual magnitude ranges from 4.1 to 6.2. It is a semi-regular variable with huge spikes every 50 years (causing the brightness to change). In 2000-2001, the star ejected about 10,000 Earth masses in a single outburst. Scientists believe it exploded as a supernova because it used up most of its nuclear fuel. But if this is so, then the light from the explosion has not yet reached us.

V509 Cassiopeia– G-type supergiant at 7800 light years. The yellow-white star is a semi-regular variable. Luminosity varies within 4.75-5.5.

Notable objects

• Star of Tycho Brahe. In 1572, Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe noticed the sudden appearance of a bright new star in the constellation Cassiopeia, near κ Cas. The nova gradually weakened and was no longer visible after sixteen months. Today we know that it was a supernova - one of the last stellar explosions observed in the Milky Way galaxy. Located about 7,500 light-years away, the supernova remnant is nearly 20 light-years in diameter.
• Cassiopeia A. This constellation contains one of the most powerful sources of galactic radio emission - Cassiopeia A (Cas A). The flux of radio waves from this region of the sky is many times more powerful than the radio emission from Tycho Brahe's star. In 1951, photographic plates sensitive to red light captured fragments of a small radio nebula associated with Cassiopeia A. Based on the rate of expansion of the nebula, it was calculated that the explosion that gave birth to it probably occurred in 1667. In the sky, this object is located between β Cassiopeia and δ Cepheus.

Other interesting objects in the constellation include:

• Open star clusters M52 (NGC 7654), M103 (NGC 581), NGC 457 and NGC 7789,
• Dwarf elliptical galaxies NGC 147 and NGC 185 are satellites of the Andromeda Nebula,
• Diffuse nebula NGC 281
• The giant gas sphere is the Bubble Nebula (NGC 7635).
• Nebulae IC 1805, IC 1848 and IC 1795, which are associated with radio sources W4, W5 and W3, respectively.